I, William Penn, Proprietor and Governor of the colony of Pennsylvania given to me by King Charles II, do hereby declare:
That as soon as persons arrive in the colony land will be set aside for a large town or city near a river. Every person who purchases land will have a section determined by lottery. Great roads will be built from the city into the countryside.
Every purchaser may buy from one thousand to ten thousand acres of land. However, no person is to have more than one thousand acres unless in three years he brings his family to settle on the land.
When a servant is brought over to work the land at the end of his years of service he shall be given 50 acres of his master’s land.
For those who wish to search for gold and silver in Pennsylvania, they have the liberty to dig in any man’s property provided they pay for any damages done to the land. If gold or silver is discovered the person who discovered it will get one-fifth; the owner of the land will be given one-tenth; the governor, two-fifths; and, the rest will go into the colony’s treasury with a share going to the King of England.
Every man will be required to plant a section of his land within three years after purchasing the land or it will be divided and settled by newcomers.
Planters are to trade fairly with the natives of this country.
No person shall harm or mistreat an Indian in any way. If a person breaks the law he or she would be punished as if the harm had been done to any white settler. If any Indian, in any way, harms a settler, the settler may not take the law into his or her own hands but must present a case before an officer of the district. The district officer or judge will take the case to the local Indian chief who has the power to determine how the dispute should be settled.
In clearing the ground for planting, one acre of trees should be left for every five acres cleared in order to preserve oak and mulberry trees for silk and shipping. —William Penn Source: Henry Steele Commager and Milton Cantor (eds.), Documents of American History, Vol. 1, 10th Edition (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1988), pp. 35-36.
Main ideas by paragraph:
1) William Penn is the governor of Pennsylvania.
2) A large town will be settled by a river with land for each person.
3) Land may be purchased in the amounts of 1,000 to 10,000 acres.
4) All servants receive 50 acres of land at the end of their service.
5) All settlers may dig for gold and silver on any land. The gold and silver will be divided between the discoverer, the owner, the governor, and the King of England.
6) All land must be planted within three years of purchase.
7) Planters will trade fairly with the natives.
8) No person shall harm or mistreat any native in any way.
9) Oak and mulberry teams for silk and shipping are preserved when clearing land.
Main idea of the article: The colony of Pennsylvania has established rules for the settlement and farming of its land. The mining of gold and silver is controlled by the governor. Natives must be treated fairly.
Supporting ideas: 1) The colony has a governor. 2) The proceeds of gold and silver mining are distributed to the discoverer, land owner, governor, and the King of England. 3)Settlers who harm or mistreat natives are punished the same as if the injury was done to white settlers. 4) A district officer or judge settles disputes with natives in cooperation with the natives' chief.
Supporting details to main idea: Who – English settlers What – Rules for the settlers Where – Province of Pennsylvania When – 1681 Why – Provide order to life, economy, and government
I, William Penn, Proprietor and Governor of the colony of Pennsylvania given
to me by King Charles II, do hereby declare:
That as soon as persons arrive in the colony land will be set aside for a large
town or city near a river. Every person who purchases land will have a
section determined by lottery. Great roads will be built from the city into
the countryside.
Every purchaser may buy from one thousand to ten thousand acres of land.
However, no person is to have more than one thousand acres unless in
three years he brings his family to settle on the land.
When a servant is brought over to work the land at the end of his years of
service he shall be given 50 acres of his master’s land.
For those who wish to search for gold and silver in Pennsylvania, they have
the liberty to dig in any man’s property provided they pay for any damages
done to the land. If gold or silver is discovered the person who discovered it
will get one-fifth; the owner of the land will be given one-tenth; the governor,
two-fifths; and, the rest will go into the colony’s treasury with a share
going to the King of England.
Every man will be required to plant a section of his land within three years
after purchasing the land or it will be divided and settled by newcomers.
Planters are to trade fairly with the natives of this country.
No person shall harm or mistreat an Indian in any way. If a person breaks
the law he or she would be punished as if the harm had been done to any
white settler. If any Indian, in any way, harms a settler, the settler may not
take the law into his or her own hands but must present a case before an
officer of the district. The district officer or judge will take the case to the
local Indian chief who has the power to determine how the dispute should
be settled.
In clearing the ground for planting, one acre of trees should be left for
every five acres cleared in order to preserve oak and mulberry trees for
silk and shipping.
—William Penn
Source: Henry Steele Commager and Milton Cantor (eds.), Documents of American History, Vol. 1, 10th Edition
(Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1988), pp. 35-36.
Main ideas by paragraph:
1) William Penn is the governor of Pennsylvania.
2) A large town will be settled by a river with land for each person.
3) Land may be purchased in the amounts of 1,000 to 10,000 acres.
4) All servants receive 50 acres of land at the end of their service.
5) All settlers may dig for gold and silver on any land. The gold and silver will be divided between the discoverer, the owner, the governor, and the King of England.
6) All land must be planted within three years of purchase.
7) Planters will trade fairly with the natives.
8) No person shall harm or mistreat any native in any way.
9) Oak and mulberry teams for silk and shipping are preserved when clearing land.
Main idea of the article: The colony of Pennsylvania has established rules for the settlement and farming of its land. The mining of gold and silver is controlled by the governor. Natives must be treated fairly.
Supporting ideas:
1) The colony has a governor.
2) The proceeds of gold and silver mining are distributed to the discoverer, land owner, governor, and the King of England.
3) Settlers who harm or mistreat natives are punished the same as if the injury was done to white settlers.
4) A district officer or judge settles disputes with natives in cooperation with the natives' chief.
Supporting details to main idea:
Who – English settlers
What – Rules for the settlers
Where – Province of Pennsylvania
When – 1681
Why – Provide order to life, economy, and government